House GOP Has 'No Appetite' for Another Government Shutdown

Nearly a year after the last government shutdown, House Republicans say they don't expect a repeat this October.

The fiscal year, along with its funding, runs out Sept. 30, but Republicans told The Wall Street Journalthey expect to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government running through at least into December.

The midterm elections are set for Nov. 4, and a showdown like last year's could hurt the GOP at the ballot box, many in the party fear.

"There is virtually no appetite for getting anywhere close to a shutdown this year," Rep. John Campbell of California told the Journal.

Last year, Texas freshman Sen. Ted Cruz led the effort that tied the budget to defunding Obamacare. After a 16-day partial government shutdown, Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid reached a deal in the Senate to keep funding for the Affordable Care Act while avoiding a default on the U.S. debt.

This year, the potential tie-in to the budget would be continuation of the charter for the Export-Import Bank. The federal agency helps exporters, and it's charter ends in late September.

Conservative Republicans want to shut down the agency because they believe it amounts to corporate welfare. But its opponents told the Journal that even they don't want to risk another shutdown blamed on Republicans.

Democrats also oppose the agency, so a separate vote is possible when Congress returns Sept. 8. But Republicans could face criticism for having to rely on Democrats to pass their legislation, making the move trickier.